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Frances Ha Movie Review

Frances Ha is a 2013 indie drama film directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Greta Gerwig. It’s not among the director’s best works, but it’s still solid in its own right.

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“I like things that look like mistakes“

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A story that follows a New York woman, who doesn’t really have an apartment. She apprentices for a dance company although she’s not really a dancer, and throws herself headlong into her dreams. This is probably the most Noah Baumbach movie that he’s made so far and by that I mean that it contains most of his signature flair.

It is about a young hippie woman who is clueless in life and it’s all about personal identity and how it relates to others in society. The movie posits that sometimes being different can be too difficult in life, but is essential in maintaining personal happiness and peace.

Greta Gerwig was wonderful here. This is one of her better roles so far and her character is highly likable, charming and even funny. Though she has her amusing lines of dialogue, I wouldn’t call the movie a comedy or a dramedy. It’s a drama first and foremost, but a rather lightweight one. The tone is overly irreverent for the most part.

The other characters are underdeveloped, though Frances’ friend is very likable and endearing. The two share a wonderful friendship that is tumultuous and fraught, but eventually they reconnect in that great final sequence.

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Frances Ha is also very well shot in black-and-white color. The urban landscapes are memorable and the movie flows well and is solidly directed. It’s a charming flick through and through, but it’s way too short, slight and somewhat meandering and even pointless at times to make this movie truly great.